The Good Neighbor Award Program has been a hit ever since first suggested by Sheila. Each year middle school teachers select five students as good neighbors. These students are honored for consistently demonstrating the qualities we want in our neighbors: compassion, kindness, and generosity. Each received a framed certificate to honor their exemplary neighborly qualities, a personalized copy of Shel Silverstein’s classic book, “The Giving Tree” and a “goody bag” filled with items donated by local businesses.These students have their photos along with a write-up in "The Tomahawk," our local newspaper. Read the newsletter below the photos for more information.
Our Good Neghbor celebration for the 2019/2020 school year ended up being a drive through. Cars entered from Main Street onto Reece Avenue, the lane between the Christian Church and their new building. Johnson County Chapter Members stood on the sidewalk at the side of the church. Gift bags were handed out, as well as homemade cookies from Barbara, as the cars passed. Chapter members had the chance to smile, wave, and say, "Thank you!"
Newsletter
The Good Neighbor Reception was a success in every way! We decorated the Conference Room at the library with balloons, which made it very welcoming. The dessert tables were full of all kinds of “yummies,” thanks to several members who not only brought food and drink, but stayed for the program.
We had invited community leaders to join us, and we had a good response. Rep. Timothy Hill, Director of Schools Mischelle Simcox, Middle School Principal Edna Miller, Kevin Long, and Steve Long all attended. Both Rep. Hill and Dr. Simcox spoke briefly and expressed appreciation for the Good Neighbor Award and the rationale behind it. Mayor Potter and Mayor Keeble were unable to attend, but each prepared letters of congratulations for each student.
Each of the Good Neighbors received a framed certificate with this written on it: In honor of your exemplary qualities of compassion, kindness and generosity we proudly present this certificate to (name of student) the Good Neighbor for (month, year). In addition, each was presented with a personalized copy of Shel Silverstein’s classic, “The Giving Tree” and a “goodie bag” filled with items donated by local businesses.
I wish all of you could have seen the children’s faces. Leni, Rose and I all commented that this may have been the first time some of them had ever been publically recognized, it may have been the first time they received so many nice gifts, including $10.00 from Elizabethton Federal Bank, and it may have changed the way they see themselves.
All in all, it was a lovely experience. I am grateful for all of your support, and I am especially grateful to Leni and Rose for their willingness to go above and beyond to help make this first year of the Good Neighbor Award a success. We’re looking forward to next year!
